Key Benefits of Using an Employer of Record in Kenya for International Businesses
Emmanuel Amegah
February 13, 2025
Kenya is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, offering a skilled workforce, strategic location, and a thriving business environment. However, navigating Kenya’s labor laws, payroll systems, and tax regulations can be challenging for foreign businesses.
An Employer of Record (EOR) like Cadana simplifies the hiring process in Kenya, ensuring compliance with local regulations while allowing businesses to hire employees quickly and efficiently.
Here are five key benefits of using an Employer of Record (EOR) in Kenya for international expansion.
Quick & Compliant Hiring Without a Legal Entity
Setting up a local subsidiary in Kenya requires extensive paperwork, government approvals, and legal compliance, which can take months. With an EOR in Kenya, businesses can hire employees immediately without establishing a local entity.
How an EOR Speeds Up Hiring:
- No need for entity registration – The EOR legally employs workers on your behalf.
- Faster hiring process – Onboard employees in days instead of months.
- Compliant employment contracts – All contracts align with Kenya’s labor laws.
By partnering with Cadana’s EOR services, businesses can enter the Kenyan market quickly without administrative delays.
Hassle-Free Payroll Processing & Tax Compliance
Payroll management in Kenya involves handling income tax (PAYE), the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), and other statutory contributions such as the Affordable Housing Levy (AHL). An EOR ensures that payroll is processed accurately and on time, preventing compliance issues.
How an EOR Simplifies Payroll in Kenya:
- PAYE tax deductions – Ensures accurate income tax payments to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
- NSSF & NHIF contributions – Employers must remit these social security and healthcare payments.
- Overtime & statutory leave calculations – Avoids disputes over salary entitlements.
With Cadana’s EOR services, businesses avoid tax filing errors and reduce compliance risks by outsourcing payroll management.
Compliance with Kenya’s Labor Laws & Employment Regulations
Kenya has strict labor laws that protect employee rights and regulate working conditions. Non-compliance can result in legal penalties, fines, or business restrictions.
Key Employment Laws in Kenya:
- Employment Act, 2007 – Governs contracts, wages, leave entitlements, and termination rules.
- Labor Relations Act – Covers dispute resolution, worker rights, and unionized labor practices.
- NSSF & NHIF Acts – Mandate social security and healthcare contributions for all employees.
An EOR ensures compliance with all these laws by managing employment contracts, payroll processing, statutory deductions, and benefits administration on behalf of your company.
Cost Savings & Reduced Administrative Burden
Hiring in Kenya without an EOR requires setting up a local entity, which includes:
- Legal registration fees.
- HR and payroll infrastructure costs.
- Ongoing compliance management expenses.
Using an EOR like Cadana allows businesses to:
- Eliminate entity setup costs – No need to register a local company or maintain office infrastructure.
- Outsource payroll and compliance tasks – Avoid hiring in-house HR teams or legal experts.
- Reduce financial risk – Ensure taxes and statutory contributions are handled accurately from day one.
By leveraging Cadana’s cost-effective EOR services starting at competitive rates per employee per month, businesses can focus on growth while saving resources.
Improved Employee Experience & Retention
A strong employee experience helps businesses retain top talent in Kenya. An EOR ensures employees are paid on time, receive statutory benefits such as NHIF healthcare and NSSF retirement contributions, and have access to HR support.
How an EOR Enhances Employee Experience:
- Timely salary payments – Ensures accurate disbursement of salaries without delays or miscalculations.
- Full statutory benefits administration – Includes retirement contributions (NSSF), healthcare (NHIF), housing funds (AHL), annual leave entitlements, maternity/paternity leave benefits, and more.
- Seamless HR support – Employees have a direct point of contact for resolving HR-related concerns or queries.
With Cadana’s EOR services, businesses can attract top-tier professionals while maintaining high employee satisfaction through compliant benefits administration.
Why Choose Cadana as Your Employer of Record in Kenya?
Expanding into Kenya offers immense opportunities but navigating employment regulations can be complex without local expertise.
Cadana’s EOR services help businesses:
- Hire employees in Kenya quickly and legally without setting up a local entity.
- Manage payroll processing, taxes, and statutory benefits hassle-free.
- Ensure full compliance with Kenyan labor laws to mitigate risks of fines or disputes.
- Reduce operational costs while focusing on strategic growth initiatives.
Ready to expand into Kenya? Partner with Cadana today to streamline your hiring process and start building your team with confidence!
Emmanuel Amegah